Chinese Dwarf Hamster 101

Looking for information on the Chinese dwarf hamster? These animals have their origins in Mongolia and the Northern areas of China. They go by the scientific name of Cricetus Griseus and they are a popular pet but not as popular as the Russian dwarf hamsters. Chinese dwarf hamsters are not technically dwarf hamsters, but they are commonly thought as such due to having a similar appearance to the Russian dwarf hamster.

Chinese dwarf hamster basics

The Chinese dwarf hamster will live about 2-3 years which isn’t long but most hamsters have a short lifespan. They average in size about 10-12cm. These hamsters have a 3cm long tail and come in two colors: normal, and dominant spot. The normal ones have a grayish brown color to them. Down the spine of this animal, you’ll find a black stripe that’s quite prominent. The ones that are dominant spot are mainly white with patches of gray-brown. Female hamsters seem to bond well together and if you’re going to have more than one make sure you have females only or males only unless you’re trying to breed your hamsters.

Some people think that females are more aggressive than males and should not be kept together. However, this may arise from females play-fighting and squeaking more than males. Social grooming may also sometimes be confused with fighting. It is not true that only males can be kept together. Regardless of the gender, it’s important to separate your hamsters immediately if they start fighting.

Chinese dwarf hamster personality

Chinese hamsters are lively and agile and they enjoy activities such as climbing, running, and jumping. Wash your hands before you pick up your hamster and use cupped hands to do it. This should be supervised by an adult if children are picking up a hamster. Make sure other animals such as a cat or dog are away from the hamster when you are playing with your pet. When you do pick up the Chinese dwarf hamster handle it carefully as it’s quite fragile. If you handle the hamster from an early age it will become tame but just be careful when doing so.

What do Chinese dwarf hamsters eat?

Water is essential for a Chinese dwarf hamster so make sure you always have a fresh supply. It’s ideal to change the water daily as it can become dirty with pellets and debris from the cage. As with other hamsters, your Chinese hamster should be given a food mix formulated specially for hamsters. Other than that, the hamster enjoys seeds, vegetables, fruit, bread and similar foods. They will also eat other creatures such as crickets on occasion.

These hamsters also need chew toys so make sure they have toys designed for hamsters and replace them when they are worn. Some hamsters will hoard food so allow them to keep it for a few days but then replace it for sanitary concerns. Make sure you remove uneaten food like fruit or vegetables before these spoil.

Your hamster’s cage

Hamsters like to have various places to roam around in so get them a half decent sized cage and the cage should have obstacles and places for them to hide out in. If there’s a more dominant hamster in the cage this allows the less dominant hamster to hide from the dominant one. Aquarium tanks work well as these are large enough. You don’t want to use regular hamster cages with wider bars because dwarf hamsters are quite small and they may escape on you or injure themselves trying to squeeze through the bars. They don’t like direct sunlight or too much heat so keep them in shady areas of a room. Wood shavings work well for bedding but avoid cedar or pine as this can impact their respiratory system. Get a wheel as this is essential for them to get exercise.

Other hamster care information

Caring for Chinese dwarf hamsters is similar to caring for other dwarf hamsters. You can visit our dwarf hamster care page to find out more about how to take care of your Chinese dwarf hamster.

Hi maymay, do you mean a tab on the menu with Robo Dwarf Hamster, Russian Dwarf Hamster, Siberian Hamster…etc ?

Theresa smith

I have a Chinese hamster too! His name is Chester! He is about two years old.

Brooklyn Davis

I have a Chinese dwarf hamster too! His name is Oreo. He was just born!

Babie SCANTS

I have a Chinese hamster he’s 22 weeks male but my daughter names him Rosie lol

em

Im getting one tomorrow naming her Athena

Mocha

I have a chinese dwarf hamster to! Her name is Mocha. 🙂
Question: She has a scab on her back, and I don’t know where it came from, what should I do?

Ciera

Hamsters are prone to getting scabs and stuff. She was probably just playing to hard and hurt herself. Make sure it’s not infected and if it’s not it will heal itself 🙂

Nicolleguemar

My boyfriend and I just got two male ones went with a game of thrones theme! The white one is ghost and the brown one is called kingslayer 🙂

Rachel Blackley

Hi, I just took in a Chinese Dwarf from a friend who had only had him a week (her cat thought he was lunch so he was best leaving before any real problems arose).
I’ve only had Syrians before, never a dwarf, and have only ever fed hamster food and treats. I saw the bit about food said about crickets being offered and was wondering about mealworms. I have an African Pygmy Hedgehog so have a constant supply of mealworms but don’t want to give them to the hamster if it’s not ok for him!

Mealworm is okay for dwarf hamsters. Mine love the dried ones! I’m not sure if your mealworms are alive or dead, but if they are are live, you might want to remove the head before giving one to your hamster. Hamsters like pouching their food and a live mealworm might bite your hamster in the pouch

Morgan

I have a Chinese dwarf and his name is Squiggles. I’ve had him for nearly 5 years, and my bedroom has really smelled like hamster pee over the years, and my parents are really complaining about it. I’ve been cleaning his cage almost every other day, but it still won’t go away! Anyone got advice before my parents try to sell my baby?

Cc

hi morgan! im Cc… i think I have a solution to your problem! I was thinking the food that you feed him might be too acidic which is causing the smell… Have you tried to use a different food recource? Or maybe its his beding which could be exorbing the blatter causing the smell.

animal_lover_2002

I have a female Chinese dwarf hamster and her name is Squirrel a use she looks like one.

Cc

Hi im about to get a chinese dworf hamster! Anything i should know to keep good care of it?

tehya

Clean their cage at least once a week. They like seeds and fruits and vegetables, but make sure you get it from a store. Particularly pet smart. That have a bag of food for 3.99 and it lasted a couple of weeks for me. They are active so give them plenty of room to play. And definitely get a wheel, but watch out. They like to run so much that sometimes they run their feet raw and start to bleed. But other than that, have fun. Oh. And change their water EVERY DAY.

My Chinese hamster is very active most of the time. She is happy with her younger sister and they like to cuddle together when they fall asleep. They also like sharing the wheel and running on it together. My wheel is wide, put it’s not metal because that can be dangerous!

Caitlin

Some people say that the only hamsters that can live together are the Chinese hamsters, others say that the Russian hamsters are the only ones that can live together. Who’s right?

Well I have had 2 Chinese dwarf hamsters (not at the same time) and have found that the Chinese dwarf are happy as long as you handle them often.

Hunter Bartlett

My son had two chinese dwarf hamsters. We got them right after weaning, both female, both from the same shop/cage. Have them a bit over a year. Today we came home, and he went to play with them and one had eaten the other’s face off. I don’t know why. The only reason I can think of is last night, I got up and took their wheel out because it’s getting so loud, it was keeping me up. Did they get bored? They were well fed, watered, he cleans their cage every sunday. I’ve never seen them fight. They’re usually always cuddling together. Needless to say, my son is a bit traumatized! They nearly identical, so I don’t know which one is dead and which one is a murderer.

DON’T listen to what the shops tell you. They lie to make money. Chinese dwarfs are best on their own and those rodents that live in groups are best in pairs. Something similar happened with my 3 gerbils (before they got strokes and died prematurely), the shop said they would be fine, but that wasnt the case.

Brittany love

My dwarf hamster has a large scab on his side. There hair is gone where the scab is. Has some white in the middle but not sure if it’s hair or something worse. Help

Please take your hamster to the vet! There isn’t much we can do to help

Brittany love

It’s the weekend. They are closed. I have to find one who Will see a hamster. I have to make an appointment. I have to wait for the appointment. I just wanted a bit of advice. Maybe someone had dealt with this. Take to vet is not helpful.

Kayleigh 4828-5252-3322

Hi, I have a male chinese dwarf hamster and all of a sudden he just started chirping/chirruping in his cage. It doesn’t sound like a health related thing, he’s still active; eating, drinking, running around, to be honest he’s a lot more active than he usually is! It sounds more like a friendly noise and it isn’t constant, he hasn’t done it for the past few minutes it was just a random spout by the sounds of it. He doesn’t have a friend in his cage with him but I do have a russian in a separate cage across the room. Hope you can help 🙂

Jeni

I have a question for anyone familiar with hamsters that like to “talk” My son got a Chinese dwarf hamster almost 4 weeks ago. She squeaks nonstop… When she is eating, when she is playing and when she is climbing. This is the 2nd Chinese dwarf hamster we have had and the first one never made a peep! I also grew up with hamsters and have never seen such a verbal hyper hamster. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this and maybe she’s some light on anything she may need. Yes she has plenty of food and water. Thanks!

Courtney Cannava

I don’t have an answer for you, exactly, but I can tell you that my sister just got a new Chinese Dwarf yesterday, and he’s been fairly vocal as well. The two she’s had in the past were always very quiet, so this was a bit of a surprise. He started making soft “chh-chh” noises while we were handling him, and he seemed very happy and comfortable otherwise, so I can only assume it’s a sign of contentment. As long as your hammie has everything she needs, and she isn’t showing any other signs of distress, I wouldn’t worry–this one’s probably just a bit more talkative than your last!

Courtney Cannava

Hi Tammy! In case you’re still wondering–this is very normal, yes. My sister has had three Chinese Dwarf males now, and all three have had genitals nearly the size of their heads. It makes them look a bit ridiculous, to be sure, but it’s harmless 🙂

Jenny Bourgeois

Along that line, we have 2 chinese males and our older one (not even a year old yet) has one testicle that looks deflated almost? It’s very strange. We just noticed this today? Have you ever seen this? We will make him a vet appt. on Monday if things continue but he doesn’t seem hurt or in pain. That you 🙂

Betti Nolastnam

My hamsters are fighting a lot. Not constantly but a lot. Do I need to separate them? I do have a dominent one, and a timid one, but just those two. They are both chinese dwarf hamsters, both male. As I said, the dominent one seems to be eating all the food, and the timid is much thinner-looking than the other. I have read through most of these comments/questions/answers, and I think I may have to separate them. But the thing is, the people at the pet shop say that they are best kept in pairs or others, not alone as this may make them feel lonely and they may become really subdued and antisocial. So I am not sure, and if you have any advice it would be really helpful. And if you do, advice for keeping them alone would be great. Thank you all x

Taylor B

I’ve had my hamster for 5 days. At first she would run and hide when I walked in the room. Now, when I put my hand in the aquarium she jumps in my hand and climbs up to my shoulder and sits… Most times, she refuses to get off of me… She nibbles on my skin. How do I get her to stop? When she’s in the tank. She runs like there’s no tomorrow but when I put her in her ball, she stays still. I am 14 and this is my first ever hamster…

Bubbles…

Hi Everyone.. I am a new hamster.. I had one earlier this year but, she passes at the age of 4 years… I have a dwarf hamster.. are the male parts large.. I am worried and don’t want to loose him.. He is so cute and sweet… he is about 4 monthes old.. I have had him for 8 weeks and I love him so much.. Thank you sooo much…

Allyson G.

I just got my Chinese Dwarf Hamster and she is hiding under the bedding. What do I do? I can’t see her. All I see is a little bump in the bedding where she is.

Alex

She’s scared. She was just transported from her home to a new one, give her time to relax and she’ll come out.

Cause she’s an evil b**** and like most women , they survive destroying men anyway they can.

ceslacap1

My business partners were looking for a form earlier today and saw a document management site that has an online forms library . If others are requiring it too , here’s https://goo.gl/gXIjW8.

Blaine

My daughter loves chinese dwarf hamsters but we cannot find any in our area. Does anyone know if there is a breeder in NY near Rochester? i’m not Blaine BTW I don’t know why it is posting this way.

Abbey

Hi, I just got a chinese dawrf hamster myself. I live in North Carolina but maybe if you have a Petsmart near you, you can get the hamster there. Petsmart is very helpful and will tell you everything you need to know. They will let you pick out the hamster you want and hold the hamster before you take him/her home. I hope this helps!

Mmcpob20

Hi! It’s often hard to find Chinese Hamsters now… I have two boys (Do NOT place your Chinese hamsters together, they actually aren’t dwarves and can NOT live together. They are like Syrians) My boys are separated and we got them 2 years ago (Theyre seniors now) at PetSmart (I don’t have a rescue near me) and now they discontinued buying them. They aren’t the typical hamster so they don’t sell very many… Wishing I got a girl to breed them. (Its not a good idea, their genetics could cause deformations)

Gia G // FoxyThePirateFox7656

Chinese dwarf hamsters are not allowed in most states, I’m not sure why but that’s my aunt told me when she gave me mine. They are legal in Pennsylvania, I’m not sure of the other states but I live in Pennsylvania and they are allowed to be owned in my state.

Sidney Cartwright

We live in Washington State and got our Chinese dwarf hamster from Petco. She is precious and we love her to pieces. She is a picky eater and prefers fruits, veggies to most any of the hamster and dwarf hamster packaged food. Very healthy and approaching 3 years.

Alex

That’s just where your hamster feels safe. Maybe try to get him or her a new place to hide and he or she may come out more often!

Alex

The ones at the stores kept together in cages are very young, so they don’t have the territorial instinct yet.